As a young girl in Kansas, Cindy Spade cultivated an early love for second-hand clothing. "I come from a large family," she says one foggy Saturday afternoon, "and all the clothes I wore were hand-me-downs or handmade until about fourth or fifth grade." This homegrown background, along with having an innate love for fashion (and a mom who knew her way around a sewing machine) makes it no surprise that Spade's life long love of clothing eventually translated into the beloved Hayes Valley vintage boutique, Ver Unica. Spade, along with her husband and business partner, Steve Bell, brought the first incarnation of Ver Unica to life in 1996 and have been leading the way in fashion-forward vintage ever since.

Ver Unica's merchandise is carefully curated and held to a high standard, but does not adhere to one specific era or aesthetic. It's typical to find pristine mink collar coats, brown suede vests embellished with swingy fringe, and classic Salvatore Ferragamo bow shoes all under one roof. Spade is a fan of wearing different eras simultaneously as well as mixing vintage with new.